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spring steel breast plate
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:32 am
by CT03
Just curious... how would one go about heat treating something as big as a breast/backplate?
Most forges that can get up to the necessary temps are not big enough... would you use something like a kiln? But you would have to be about insane to open a kiln up mid cycle to pull it out and drop it in an oil bath which would cause a massive flair up due to the size and displacement...
Re: spring steel breast plate
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:01 am
by Swamp Stick
Actually that is exactly what you would do. This is why most people send things off to the commercial heat treater who has the equipment and experience.
Bjorn
Re: spring steel breast plate
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:04 am
by Marco-borromei
Open coal/charcoal forge built to the size needed, possibly with a kaowool blanket to place over the piece for efficiency. Scale up in size as necessary.
Re: spring steel breast plate
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:48 am
by CT03
interesting... thank you
Re: spring steel breast plate
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:18 pm
by Thomas Powers
If it's used as a heat treat furnace it's not "mid cycle"; it's end of cycle!
Thomas
Re: spring steel breast plate
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 11:02 am
by Jeffrey Hedgecock
Electric ceramics kilns work quite well, and have a decent interior space. I can't do the largest cuirasses with mine, but I can do nearly all pieces necessary.They're pretty affordable used too. I like top loaders, easier to hook the part and lift then over to the quench. Yeah it's hot, but sending stuff out isn't my cup of tea. I can't face trusting anyone else to heat treat my stuff. If somebody's gonna screw it up, I'd rather it be me.
Having worked with coal and propane forges plenty, I can't imagine using a coal/charcoal or propane kiln. Coal seems super messy and propane seems really dangerous and noisy. But hey, that's just my take on it.